Download LOYOLA COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), CHENNAI – 600 034

LOYOLA COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS), CHENNAI – 600 034
M.Sc. DEGREE EXAMINATION - PHYSICS
SECOND SEMESTER – APRIL 2008
PH 2808 - QUANTUM MECHANICS
Date : 22/04/2008
Time : 1:00 - 4:00
Dept. No.
PART A
FG 30
Max. : 100 Marks
(10 x2 m = 20 m)
1) Prove that the momentum operator is self adjoint.
2) In what way is the orthonormal property of eigenfunctions belonging to discrete set of eigenvalues
different from those of continuous set?
3) Define parity operator. What is its action on a wave function ψ ( r, θ, φ)?
4) What is a rigid rotator and what are its energy eigenvalues?
5) Expand an arbitrary state vector in terms of certain basis vectors. Define projection operator.
6) Explain the term the ‘wave function’ of a state vector ‫׀‬ψ>.
7) Given that [ JX,JY] = iħ JZ and its cyclic, verify that [ J+, J-] = 2ħ JZ, where J+ = JX + iJY and J- = JXiJY.
8) Prove that the Pauli spin matrices anticommute.
9) Write down the Hamiltonian of a hydrogen molecule.
10) Explain the terms classical turning points and the asymptotic solution in the context of WKB
approximation method.
PART B
( 4x7 ½ m = 30 m)
ANSWER ANY FOUR QUESTIONS
11) (a) Verify the identities [ AB, C) = A [ B, C] + [ A, C] B and [ A, BC] = B[A, C] + [ A, B] C . (b)
Determine [ x2, p2], given that [ x, p] = iħ.
12) Evaluate ( um, x un) where un’s are the eigenfunctions of a linear harmonic oscillator.
13) Prove that “the momentum operator in quantum mechanics is the generator of infinitesimal
translations”.
14) (a) Prove that ( σ.A) (σ.B) = A.B + i σ. ( A xB) where σ’s are the Pauli spin matrices , if the
components of A and B commute with those of σ. (b) Determine the value of (σx +i σy)2.
15) Estimate the ground state energy of a two-electron system by the variation method.
PART C
( 4x 12 ½ m=50 m)
ANSWER ANY FOUR QUESTIONS
16) (a) State and prove closure property for a complete set of orthonormal functions. (b) Normalize the
wave function ψ(x) = e - ‫׀‬x‫ ׀‬sinx.
17) Discuss the simple harmonic oscillator problem by the method of abstract operators and obtain its
eigenvalues and eigenfunctions.
18) (a) The position and momentum operators xop and pop have the Schrödinger representations as x
and –iħ ∂/∂x”-Verify this statement.(b) Explain the transformation of Schrödinger picture to
Heisenberg picture in time evolution of quantum mechanical system.
19) Determine the eigenvalue spectrum of the angular momentum operators J2, Jz ,J+ and J-, starting
with the postulate [ Jx, Jy] = iħ Jz and its cyclic.
20) Outline the perturbation theory of degenerate case with specific reference to the two-dimensional
harmonic oscillator.
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